Rotary engine.



. T E W No. 859,848. PATENTED JULY 9,1907.

A. W. SHEPHERD. ROTARY'ENGINB.

ABPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1906.

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A. w. SHEPHERD, ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED EPT. 26, 1905.

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ARTHUR W. SHEPHERD, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ROTARY EN GINE.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Ju ly 9, 1907.

Application filed Beptember 26,1905. Serial No- 280,187.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. SHEPHERD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact descripings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to an improved rotary engine oijthat class wherein a drum is mounted eccentrically within the cylinder and carries a double-ended piston tion, reference being had to the accompanying drawwhich slides diametrically through saiddrum, and the ends of ,which engage the walls ofthe cylinder.

My invention consists in. the novel construction hereinafter shown, described and claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved rotary engine of the class above mentioned, which shall possess certain points of superiority and simplicity, and which shall be adapted for use as a steam engine, a gas engine, a pump, or as a mufiler for steam engines or gas engines.

.In the drawingsFigure 1 is a sectional side elevation of an engine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a.

I sectional plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of same. Fig. 4is a detail view of the inner periphery of the cylinder, illustrating the exhaust-ports.

The drum 1 is mounted eccentrically within the cylinder 2, upon the stub-shafts 3, which latter have suitable bearings in the opposite heads of the said cylinder. Said drum 1 has formed in it a guide-slot 4 which extends, diametrically across the same, and

within said guide-slot are two equal sized plates that I which is fixed upon t a suitable steam-boiler."

.form a double-ended piston 5 which slides back and forth so that the outer ends will engage the walls of said cylinder and form a comparatively tight joint therewith.

The double-ended piston is made in two parts in order that during its rotation the centrifugal motion will throw the two parts of said piston outwardly, and thus automatically form a tight joint with the entire periphery of the cylinder. The inner side walls of the cylinder that are not covered by the sides of the drum 1 are slightly inclined, asindicated by 5, and the sides of the outer ends of t e piston 5 are correspondingly beveled, in order to f rm a comparatively tight joint against the inclined faces 5". v

6 indicates a common rocking-valve, the casing of he cylinder 2 and communicates with the interior'of the cylinder by means of an induction-port 7. In casen'iy is to be used as a steam. engine, the pipe 8 shonldfxtend from said valve 6 to In case the device. is to be used as a gas engine or gae6lene engine, said pipe 8 is eitended, as shown, to a common piston-pump 9 within which reciprocates the usual-piston, which is one of the stubshaits 3 at one side of the cylinder, and said eccentric is connected to the piston of said pump by means of the usual eccentric-rod 11. Said pump 9 is adapted to compress the explosive charge previous to its entrance g to the cylinder 2, which takes place through the said pipe 8, valve 6 and port 7. The mixture of gas and air,

or of gasolene and air, or other hydro-carbon explosive mixture, is supplied to the said pump 9 by means of any common mixing-valve 12, with which isconnected a G5 supply-pipe 13.

Diametrically opposite the induction" port 7 is 7 formed, in the cylinder wall, a series of exhaust-ports 14 which discharge into an exhaust-pipe 15. Motion is communicated to the valve 6 by means of the rockerarm 16 and an eccentric-rod 17 which is connected to an. eccentric 18 fixed upon the stub'shaft on the opposite side of the cylinder from that on which the eccentric 10 is located. I I

' 19 indicates a common fly-wheel fixed upon the stub-shaft exterior of the eccentric 18.

20 indicates the, usual spark-plug for igniting. the charge in the customary manner. a

The operation is as follows: I will first describe the operation of the device as a steam engine. Steam en-- 30 tering the port 7,, passes into the cylinder-and fills the space inclosed by the drum 1,-the fiiolccting end of the piston 5 and the adjacent cylinder wall, and forces the piston in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1,. and said piston of course carries with it the drum 1, the stub-shafts 3 and all parts carried thereby Movement of the piston continues until it reaches the exhaust-ports 14, when the contents of the cylinder are discharged through the said ports and pass oh by way of the exhaust-pipe 15. Immediately after the'90 termination of this action, the opposite end of said piston passes the induction-port 7 and receives the I force of the incoming steam, and so on, When my device is operated as a gas engine or gasolene engine, the explosive mixture is first compressed within the9t pump 9, and then admitted to the pipe 8, the valve 6: and port 7, and to the space behind the projecting end of the piston 5, and is then fired by the spark formed between the points of the spark-plug 20, and the pieton will thus be caused to rotate "he manner pre viously described. In case of small gas engines, where I earlier ignition is required, I locate the spark-plug at a point below the induction-port 7. When my de vice is to be used as 'a pump, the pump 9 and valve 6 will of course be dispensed with, and necessary to impart motion to the stub-shafts when the fluid to be pumped will be drawn into the cylinder by way of the port'7, and dischsrgedlhrough the ports 14. When my device is to be used as a mufiier 'for gas engines, especially upon automobiles, the exhaust gases from the automobile engines are discharged into the cylinder 2 through the pipe 8 and prt 7, and

it will only be lfltr.

noise usually produced by the discharge of said exhnus'r, gases will also be mufiied my its discharge into the cylinder 2. l

I claim:

A rotary engine, comprising a cylinder in which is formed a circular opening, a drum eccentric-ally nrifzf nged for rotation in the cylinder, the exposed inner fnces of 'the side walls of the cylinder being inclined, there being a diametrically arranged opening formed through the drum, :1 piston formed in two parts arranged to slide -through said opening, the side faces of the outer ends'of said piston being inclined to sides of the cylinder, there being induction and exhaust ports formed through the body of the cylinder on opposite sldes thereof. a compression pump mounted on the cylinder, means whereby said compression pump is operated when the engine is in operation, a tubular connection from the compression pump to the induction port, a. valve arranged in said tnbulnr connection, and means operated by the engine whereby said valve is opened to allow fluid under pressure to pass into the cylinder.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this 25 specification, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

y' ARTHUR W. SHEPHERD. Witnesses:

M. P. SMITH, E. L. WALLACE.

engage tlie inclined faces on the 15 

